Cautious and gradual reopening of limited face-to-face classes in Philippine tertiary schools

Abstract

In a recent correspondence, the authors suggested that secondary schools must adhere to health protocols and national and international guidelines so that the delivery of face-to-face classes will not risk students’ and educators’ health. With this, this paper proposes that even in higher education, a well-planned execution of face-to-face classes must be done. Thus, the gradual reopening of face-to-face classes becomes a necessity in order to gain a sense of normalcy in the middle of a pandemic.

Forgotten frontline workers in higher education: Aiding Ghana in the COVID-19 recovery process

“…A key focus in this study is how the previously mentioned stakeholders joined forces to provide holistic education in light of the pandemic. Collaboratively, these stakeholders were responsible for lessening the disruption in the education sector during the physical resumption of schools amid the crisis ( Bonell et al, 2022 ; Gopez, 2021 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Sharma and Joshi, 2021 ). While blended learning is positively viewed by many students during the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face learning is preferred because of the limitations of the blended learning ( Mali and Lim, 2021 ).…”

Culture, Religion and the State: Towards a Multidisciplinary Approach to Ensuring Public Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (and Beyond)

“…In addition, state-managed isolation facilities must also be established, instead of turning private homes into quarantine facilities, since management is more effective in these facilities. 42 Finally, the state must also consider the “cautious and gradual” reopening of schools 43 , 44 in order to give its citizens, at least, a semblance of normalcy.…”

Regreso a la presencialidad en el sector educación posterior al confinamiento, ¿es seguro volver? Una revisión sistemática rápida de la literatura Returning to Presence in the Post-Confinement Education Sector, Is It Safe to Return? A Rapid Systematic Review of the Literature

“…Dentro de los elementos que han tenido más eficacia en el control de contagios por la enfermedad de COVID-19 es la adaptación de espacios en los cuales se desarrollan los estudiantes, para así reducir al mínimo el riesgo de contagio (21). También, se propone implementar sistemas unidireccionales para caminar y evitar el contacto entre personas por pasillos o caminos estrechos, así como sistemas de ventilación optimizando unidades de filtración (23). Para garantizar la adecuada ventilación, cuando las condiciones climáticas lo permitan, se propone desarrollar clases al aire libre ya que en estas circunstancias el riesgo de contagio es mínimo (20).…”

“…Asimismo, se recomienda suplir todos los espacios con elementos de desinfección como desinfectantes en gel, toallas con alcohol y si es posible instalación de lavamanos al ingreso de cada espacio, con el propósito de establecer una estación de lavado de manos previa a la entrada (18,(22)(23)(24).…”